Cooling and processing materials

Abstract

Systems and methods for cooling and processing materials are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 cooling a biomass material containing lignin bound to cellulose to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of lignin during irradiation of the biomass material, and combining the irradiated biomass material with one or more enzymes or one or more microorganisms. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , where the cooled and irradiated biomass is ground or comminuted prior to contacting the material with the enzyme and or microorganism to release sugars. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising separating the lignin from the cellulose after cooling. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , where after treatment with the enzyme and/or microorganism to release sugars, the sugars are fermented. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , where the fermentation product comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the alcohol comprises butanol. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 grinding or comminuting a biomass material containing lignin bound to cellulose, 
 cooling the biomass material to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of lignin during irradiation of the biomass material, and 
 combining the irradiated biomass material with one or more enzymes or one or more microorganisms. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , where the irradiated biomass material is further ground or comminuted prior to contacting the biomass material with the enzyme and or microorganism to release sugars. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising separating the lignin from the cellulose after cooling. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , where after treatment with the enzyme and/or microorganism to release sugars, the sugars are fermented. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , where the fermentation product comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the alcohol comprises butanol. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising cooling during grinding or comminuting. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein cooling during grinding or comminuting cools the material to a temperature below the brittle point of the material.